News

News about interesting gadgets, gear, mobile technology and lifestyle products.

Saddleback Leather Company is going soft with their new Simple Backpack

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saddleback backpack

We’ve reviewed quite a few Saddleback Leather Company bags over the years. Known for their durability and last forever construction, Saddleback bags have never been considered soft and comfy. At least till now. Their new Simple Backpack features lighter weight softer leather and is currently available in a 14″ size with a 17″ size available […]

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Give the Gift of Light with LuminAID

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The LuminAID is an ingenious portable LED light that was designed by architecture graduate students Anna Stork and Andrea Sreshta as a product to assist post-earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.  Simply leave it laying in the sun to charge up the internal battery (rechargeable up to 500 times), inflate the bag, and the LuminAID can provide

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Let CDW help you reduce your small business’ data storage requirements

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cdw storage management virtualization

This post brought to you by CDW. All opinions are 100% mine. If you own a small business or manage its IT department, you are aware of how important your data is and how expensive it can be to maintain it and make it accessible.  Equipment is expensive, people and resources to manage your data

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Ciao! Baby practical portable high chair solution for busy families

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ciao baby folding high chair

While not an electronic gadget, the Ciao! Baby high chair would have been my favorite piece of equipment when my daughter was a baby.  As any young parent can tell you, baby gear is expensive, but some things you really need because they do make things easier for you.  A high chair was something we

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Devicewear Ridge case forAsus Google Nexus 7

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Devicewear Ridge Nexus 7

I’m a bit fussy about the cases for my devices.  They mustn’t add too much bulk or weight, they mustn’t cover the bezel, and they must have some sort of stand functionality.  Well it looks like The Ridge from Devicewear might meet all my criteria.  Adding on only 7 mm and 4.2 ounces, the folio-style case allows

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Gadgeteer book club – Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore

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penumbra cover flip light 320

Happy Sunday morning everyone. Since buying the new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite ebook reader (review coming soon), I’ve been toying with the idea of starting a Gadgeteer book club. I’m not sure if you all will have an interest in this sort of thing, but we can consider this an experiment and see if it turns

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Millenium Falcon bottle opener – “You’ve never heard of the Millenium Falcon?”

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Millenium Falcon Bottle Opener

Capable of opening a beer in 12 parsecs, the Millenium Falcon bottle opener from ThinkGeek is one of the more useful pieces of Star Wars  merchandise. The opener is officially licensed (where will it stop Mr Lucas?), exclusive to ThinkGeek and measures 4″ x 3.25″. It includes a magnet on the back to attach to

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Xuron 496 Split Ring Pliers – Tools you never knew existed

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31zd8o7Ci5L. SL500 AA280

Did you know there is a tool designed specifically for opening split rings? You know, the rings you use to hold your keys? I didn’t either till I read about it on one of my favorite sites: EDC Forums. The Xuron 496 Split Ring Plier will save you from pinched finger tips and broken nails.

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New iPhone 5 case from Fotodiox promises to reduce purple lens flare

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camhoodie from

Like all lenses, the iPhone 5’s camera can experience lens flare, resulting in a purple haze in photos.  Lens flare is, according to Wikipedia, “light scattered in lens systems through generally unwanted image formation mechanisms, such as internal reflection and scattering from material inhomogeneities in the lens.”  All lenses can have it, but more expensive lenses can reduce it with coatings

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GoPro App available (finally)

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goproapp

After a long wait, GoPro has finally released their app for controlling your GoPro via your smartphone or tablet with their WiFi BacPac. The current version of the app gives you full control of your camera settings and live previews. However, it’s still not all picture perfect.   The additional functions – like being able to share

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ThinkGeek’s Mega Stomp Panic will take your Halloween costume to the next level

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megastomp panic

Mega Stomp Panic sounds like a video game, but it’s really an audio effects device that you wear on your belt. It adds crazy sound effects to your walking, running and stomping motions. Choose from 9 different effects, which include: Hydraulic Giant Robot Rainstorm Zombie Attack Gigantic Monster Gunslinger Medieval Knight Pegleg Pirate 8-Bit Gaming

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These are the ‘phones you’re looking for

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star wars earbuds

Looking for a new pair of earbuds with a built-in microphone?  Well, these are the ‘phones you’re looking for!  ThinkGeek is offering Star Wars Earbuds in Darth Vader black or Storm Trooper white.  Each set has a helmet with an integrated microphone and a button on the back that can be used to pause/play your

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DirecTV’s new Genie DVR will keep potatoes glued to their couch

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directv genie

I’ve been a DirecTV customer for well over 15 years or longer. I can’t remember not having a satellite dish, so it’s been a long time. My 2yr old DVR allows for 2 shows to be recorded while playing back a previously recorded show.  With all the new Fall TV shows, I sometimes have conflicts

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The Hop! Self-Rolling Suitcase – These Are Not the Droids You’re Looking For

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Sick of lugging your bags around airports or bus stations? The Hop! from Cargo Collective is a suitcase that takes away some of the load. As the name might suggest, the suitcase is named for hotel bellhops.  Using three receivers,  the Hop! triangulates its position relative to your Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, and using an air-based caterpillar traction

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Hunter Universal Internet Thermostat – Another iPhone Controlled Thermostat for your Home

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hunterfan thermostat

Hunter, a popular brand of ceiling fans is now offering an iPhone controllable thermostat for your home. This thermostat boasts a 5 minute installation and is universally compatible with most HVAC systems. It can be used with 4 AA batteries for up to one year or a common wire. A lack of a common wire is where

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Steampunk Your Next Poker Game with Bicycle Steampunk Playing Cards

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Bicycle Steampunk Playing Cards 2

If you still enjoy playing card games with real cards, Bicycle is now offering decks of Silver Steampunk cards. These Victorian-esque playing cards feature artwork that blends the past with the future in a really cool sci-fi type vibe. The decks are made in the USA, are priced at $5.99 each and feature a silver

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Transform Your Photos into Aluminum Art with Aluminyze

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aluminize photo prints

A lot of families like to give photos of their children to the grandparents as holiday gifts, and Aluminyze  has a unique photo product that is the perfect gift.  Instead of paper, Aluminyze infuses your images on a thin, solid sheet of aluminum.  Vibrant colors make your photo come alive, and the aluminum means your

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The Clumsy Case – For Clumsy Kids (or Adults)

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Clumsy Case

Designed by Melbourne Company Studio Proper, the Clumsy Case is an iPad case designed for kids or those of us who are just plain clumsy 🙂 Made of a soft foam that’s both durable and easy to clean, the Clumsy protects your iPad from those everyday bumps and drops as well as those messy and grubby

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GoldieBlox Knows it Takes More than Just Making it Pink to Appeal to Girls

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A couple of years ago, I asked the question Are Gadgets Just for Guys? and said that making it pink doesn’t mean it will appeal to women – it just guarantees it won’t appeal to men.  The real problem goes beyond pink and making gadgets appeal to females.  It goes to the very heart of

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